Chapter 26: A Change of Personnel

After conveying the Empress Dowager’s wishes, Wen Qiao hurried back. The Cining Palace could not be left unattended, and she feared that if she stayed away for too long, someone might attempt to harm the Empress Dowager. After all, the spies planted within the Cining Palace had not yet been fully rooted out. Xiao Zheng was busy investigating the Empress’s affairs and had not yet been able to turn his attention to the Cining Palace, leaving Wen Qiao to remain vigilant for these next few days.

It was already late. Since Wen Qiao was staying at the Cining Palace tonight and Xiao Zheng had already sent word to the Marquis’s estate, logically, she should have had nothing to worry about. Yet, for some reason, she felt an inexplicable sense of unease. She pondered it for a long time without finding a reason, eventually attributing it to the exhaustion of the past two days causing her to feel slightly lightheaded. She hoped that getting some rest would resolve it.

Such was the general situation in the palace. Earlier that afternoon, after Wen Qiao had left for the Cining Palace, Xiao Minghe had left Wen Qi behind. Ideally, Wen Qi should have promptly departed the palace to return to the Marquis’s estate, but just as she was about to leave, she was suddenly intercepted.

"Miss Wen Qi, why are you still lingering in the palace instead of returning home after your lessons?"

The Fourth Prince, Xiao Yulei, had been secretly watching from behind while Wen Qiao was still speaking with Xiao Minghe. To be honest, he did not like women who looked like Wen Qiao; her appearance was too aggressive, and he always felt he could hide nothing in front of her. Wen Qi, however, was different. With her delicate, flower-like appearance that stirred a man’s protective instincts, he had, in his own heart, claimed her as his own from the moment she began her studies at the Shangshu Study. Seeing her approach Xiao Minghe had filled him with burning jealousy, but his fear of Xiao Minghe had kept him from intervening.

Now that Xiao Minghe had finally left, he emerged from the shadows, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Wen Qi was confused, but knowing she had yet to truly get close to the Crown Prince or meet the Fifth Prince, Xiao Zuo, she did not want to discard the pawn that was Xiao Yulei just yet. Naturally, she wanted to maintain their current relationship. She was well aware of Xiao Yulei’s intentions, but she chose not to speak of them to avoid making her own position difficult.

"Your Highness, I am just preparing to return to the Marquis’s estate. You should also return to the Princes’ Quarters early. If it gets too late, I will be quite frightened on my way back."

While she knew what he was after, she had no desire for further contact with the Fourth Prince and wanted to leave the palace as quickly as possible. Her urgency had grown; the moment she saw him, she felt uncomfortable. If he took advantage of this moment to do something to her, she would be completely helpless. Remembering his unwanted advances earlier that afternoon, she feared that if she stayed, he might truly lose all restraint. It was said that the Fourth Prince was an extremely lecherous man who, despite lacking any real substance, was incredibly arrogant and could not tolerate any criticism.

As she thought this, she tried to hurry away, but to her shock, the Fourth Prince ignored the fact that they were in the imperial palace where others might pass by at any moment. He stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and tried to drag her toward a secluded area.

"Miss Wen, there is no need to be so defensive. I have no ill intentions. I only think that you are beautiful and have a fine character, and I simply do not wish to see you suffer at the hands of your Sixth Sister back at the estate. It truly wounds my heart to see you avoid me so."

"How about this? There are several excellent books at the Princes’ Quarters. I noticed you are just beginning your studies and may be struggling to keep up with the tutor. Why don't you come with me to retrieve them? They might be of great help to your learning."

The Fourth Prince lied without blinking. Wen Qi knew exactly what he intended to do if she were to go to the Princes’ Quarters. She struggled desperately, trying to call out for help, shocked by his audacity. Even with his reputation, she had not expected him to be so reckless as to try and drag a daughter of the Yongning Marquis’s house away in broad daylight, under the very nose of the Emperor.

She refused to go, and to prevent others from being drawn to the scene, the Fourth Prince moved to cover her mouth. Although Xiao Yulei was quick, Wen Qi had made enough noise that others were approaching, and he did not want to cause an unsightly scene.

He had been momentarily overcome by his impulses and had forgotten he was in the imperial palace. Seeing people approaching, he felt a flicker of fear. If word of this reached the Emperor, he would certainly face a severe reprimand. Although the Crown Prince held his position, the Fifth Prince was also studying alongside him, and Xiao Yulei secretly believed the Crown Prince’s seat was not entirely secure; he harbored his own ambitions. If the Emperor discovered he was forcing himself upon a daughter of a noble house, he would surely fall from favor. He might be lucky to escape with only house arrest, let alone hope for the throne.

Fearing the Emperor, he released Wen Qi’s wrist. Since she studied at the Shangshu Study, he would have plenty of opportunities to reach her without taking such risks. If he were dragged before the Emperor in the Imperial Study for a lecture, his brothers and sisters would surely mock him.

"Very well, Miss Wen, you may return to the estate. I shall go and organize those books; if I find any that will be of use to you, I will have them sent to you. It is indeed getting late, and I would be worried about a young lady traveling home alone."

Though he released her, his tone remained lecherous, making her skin crawl. Seizing the opportunity, Wen Qi fled, her heart still pounding with lingering fear.

Just as she was about to exit the palace, a young eunuch serving the Fourth Prince intercepted her at the gate.

"Miss Wen, His Highness says he hopes you will keep yourself pure. A soiled woman is unfit to marry into our master’s house. I advise you to conduct yourself with propriety and do nothing that might cause His Highness heartache."

The eunuch spoke with a condescending air that made Wen Qi frown, but it was her first day at the palace, and she could not afford to make enemies, especially not with the Fourth Prince’s attendant. If she had known the Fourth Prince was this troublesome, she would have avoided him at all costs. She had thought that despite his reputation, he would at least exercise some restraint in the palace, but she had nearly been unable to escape today.

Wen Qi lowered her head and gave a submissive reply. The eunuch, satisfied, returned to report to his master, leaving Wen Qi to glare at his back, teeth gritted, wondering how she might get revenge or how she would ever face the Fourth Prince again.

She had assumed Wen Qiao had already returned to the Marquis’s estate and was anxious to get home to avoid any private questioning by Wen Congqing. She had no knowledge of the events at the Cining Palace, as no one would have informed a newly arrived girl of such confidential matters.

Upon returning to the estate, she discovered from Wen Congqing that Wen Qiao was staying at the Cining Palace for the night.

"The Empress Dowager is truly biased! My sister and I both study at the Shangshu Study, so why is only the Sixth Sister allowed to stay in the palace? She hasn't even granted me an audience, let alone a place to stay."

Hearing that Wen Qiao was staying in the palace filled Wen Qi with resentment. Between the incident with the Fourth Prince and the realization that Wen Qiao was favored, she felt as if she were suffocating.

"The Empress Dowager has been poisoned and is currently unconscious. I do not know the specifics, but the Emperor kept your sister there to assist with her treatment; it is not a matter of favoritism. Besides, you have only just arrived at the palace; do not be so impatient. If you remain this volatile, you will ruin everything. If the Empress Dowager does not summon you, simply stay close to your sister. Are you not already in a position of advantage? Compared to other noble daughters, it is easier for you to approach the Empress Dowager. Your sister has only been there a few days; do not let her pull too far ahead. By the way, how is the task I gave you regarding the Emperor progressing?"

Wen Congqing had always felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort toward Wen Qiao, as she reminded him of the late Princess Changle, and he felt as though his success was entirely due to her. Whether it was his shameful pride or something else, he subconsciously pushed Wen Qiao away and preferred to rely on Wen Qi, whom he had raised in the estate and felt closer to, despite her lack of blood relation.

Wen Qi, hearing his question, immediately put on a pitiful expression.

"Father, it is not that I am unwilling, but the Emperor rarely comes to the Shangshu Study. I have no reason to enter the Imperial Study to see him. How can I approach him without any opportunity? If I had the chance, I would not hesitate. However, today the Crown Prince happened to visit the study, claiming he was merely passing by. But he is a busy man—he would not be wandering about for no reason. I suspect someone spoke to him, and he came to see what I looked like. Father, if I can get close to the Crown Prince, why must I pursue the Emperor? After all, the Crown Prince will be the Emperor one day, and as for the one currently on the throne..."

Wen Congqing’s heart skipped a beat. He could already imagine his head falling if such words reached Xiao Zheng’s ears. He narrowed his eyes and roared at her.

"Shut your mouth!"

"You are grown now; how can you be so reckless? Every time you step out, you represent the Marquis’s estate. If such words reach the wrong ears, ten of you wouldn't be enough to satisfy the Emperor’s executioner. Watch your tongue in the future, or you shall never leave the estate again, let alone study at the palace, lest you bring ruin upon this house."